The
CPT 609 ADELT is unique in that it is the
world's first radio/radar and satellite Transmitter Locator Beacon. The
CPT 609 is a
derivative of the highly successful CPT 606 ADELT. The CPT 609
comprises homing
transmitter on 121.5/243 MHz, radar transponder on 9 GHz compatible
with
aircraft or ship's radar, and satellite transmitter operating on 406
MHz.

The
satellite transmitter operates as follows. The
beacon is programmed with the country code and the aircraft
registration
marking or radio call sign. When the Beacon is activated by deployment
into
water, the satellite transmitter transmits its programmed information
as a
burst of coded signals to the orbiting COSPAS/SARSAT satellites
receiving on
406 MHz. The message is stored by the satellite and downloaded to the
nearest
Local User Terminal (LUT) ground station. Here the signal is processed
to
obtain latitude and longitude of the aircraft in distress and its
identity.
This in turn is passed to a Mission Control Centre (MCC) which routes
the
information to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) nearest the
incident, from
where search and rescue forces will be sent. Accuracy of the 406MHz
signal is
to within 1-2Km; although testing has proved accuracies of 0.2Km can be
achieved.

Once
in the general vicinity of the Beacon, SAR
teams can locate the scene with the aid of the 121.5/243 MHz homing
transmitter
and the 9 GHz transponder which will guide SAR forces to within 10m of
the
Beacon.

The
CPT 609 ADELT can be field programmable,
greatly reducing the cost and impact of changing aircraft identity. The
CPT 609
can be reprogrammed at remote locations without the need for costly and
inconvenient disassembly for replacement of EPROMS.